Jim Green Boots- Help me decide

[404Pruitt]

I know there have been threads in the past on JG boots and I’ve already read them. My question is for the ones that have tried both, do you prefer the original African Ranger or the Barefoot African Ranger? I’m having a hard time deciding which one to get.

 

[LeftySixgun]

I’m looking to buy a pair also. I have a pair of barefoot/neutral gyms shoes now and I really like the flatfoot stance and feel. To me it’s the next best natural feel to going barefoot. Which I do anytime I am home.

 

[ftrovato]

I know there have been threads in the past on JG boots and I’ve already read them. My question is for the ones that have tried both, do you prefer the original African Ranger or the Barefoot African Ranger? I’m having a hard time deciding which one to get.

I have flat feet so I went with the Rangers. I've been wearing them a lot for landscaping and they have broken in very well.

Off to Africa to hunt in them in a few weeks. Hopefully I can be half as quiet as my PH and trackers!

 

[Fixfire]

I went through the same quandary. I chose the Rangers and never looked back. I appreciated the extra stability and sure-footedness it provided me on my May safari.
Be sure to get a sole liner though. When I bought them at SCI the rep said they are designed to be worn with a liner.

 

[404Pruitt]

I went through the same quandary. I chose the Rangers and never looked back. I appreciated the extra stability and sure-footedness it provided me on my May safari.
Be sure to get a sole liner though. When I bought them at SCI the rep said they are designed to be worn with a liner.

Do you feel like they were quiet during your Safari in May? Also, what sole liner did you get?

 

[404Pruitt]

I’m looking to buy a pair also. I have a pair of barefoot/neutral gyms shoes now and I really like the flatfoot stance and feel. To me it’s the next best natural feel to going barefoot. Which I do anytime I am home.

I’ve never tried a barefoot shoe, the only thing I wear when I’m off from work is crocs or Ariat Rebars. For some reason, regular shoes hurt my feet but my crocs don’t. One thing that irritates me about my Ariats is that after hunting in them for a while they start to squeak and also hurt my feet.

 

[Stetsonham]

Do you feel like they were quiet during your Safari in May? Also, what sole liner did you get?

I have the Rangers. I wore them on Safari never thought they were loud at all very quiet.

I did put insoles into the inside for a little bit more arch support

 

[Nicaburns]

Absolutely love the barefoot! I wear mine all the time, hike with them in early season out west, and just got back from Hopetown… wouldn’t trade them! Bought a pair of the normal rangers and sold them.

 

[Gerty]

I have the regular Rangers and love them (put after market Sole insoles in them). But….. if you have a few extra bucks: the Courtney Safari boots are absolutely bomb-proof and a very similar design. Thicker sole too.

 

[Rifleman97]

I have the barefoot rangers, for me personally I would go a half size up and use an insole. I tried to use an insole on mine based on the Braddock size but caused it to make them too small for me, so I have to use them without a liner.

I also have very very wide feet, and they have a new “AtomX” version with an even wider toebox that I would have gotten if it was available when I bought mine, but everyone’s feet are different.

My barefoots are very quiet in the field, but the sole does squeak on certain floors.

Also the soles on the barefoot rangers have good grip on most surfaces but they wear down pretty fast.

 

[Fixfire]

Do you feel like they were quiet during your Safari in May? Also, what sole liner did you get?

Absolutely, worked perfectly on an old dagga boy and bull Ele!! Previous safaris I wore Kennetrek Safari boots, which turns out to be very noisy - hence the change to JG.
Good old fashioned Dr: Scholls. I wear them with all my boots.

 

[LeftySixgun]

How water proof are the Jim Greens?

 

[Hedge774]

They are Waterproof. So as I could wade through streams as long as they didn't go over the boot. I chose the Ranger (regular) because I hunt on a lot of rock and need the protection. I actually like them so much, I have them in 3 colors! Plain brown were the easiest to break in. Wifey ordered me a pair of buffalo hide mock toes (Meander) for our anniversary. I'll keep you posted!

 

[sgt_zim]

I know there have been threads in the past on JG boots and I’ve already read them. My question is for the ones that have tried both, do you prefer the original African Ranger or the Barefoot African Ranger? I’m having a hard time deciding which one to get.

One thing to be mindful of on either is if you have narrow feet. The Rangers have a HUGE toe box, and care needs to be taken when lacing to ensure the tongue doesn't bunch up.

My shoe width is A or B, depending on who's doing the measuring and cutting, so this was something I figured out pretty quickly with these boots. If you have narrow feet and your boots are hurting the tops of your feet, just be sure to pull the tongue out tight and neatly tuck the excess under the lace holes on both sides.

My shoe size is 13B or 14A. Sucks nobody really makes shoes for us, but the world is what it is, learn to adapt.

 

[samson7x]

How water proof are the Jim Greens?

They are not waterproof. I treated mine before my trip and walking through wet grass for a while will soak through. Fortunately I had another pair of boots to use while they dried out. Once leather is soaked, it takes quite a while to dry.

 

[404Pruitt]

Just ordered the original African Rangers in Fudge. FYI, if you are a member of GOVX they are 32% off for the AR's and 30% off for the barefoot AR's. You have to pay for shipping but still come out a lot cheaper than Amazon or the JG website. Hope this helps someone!

 

[LeftySixgun]

Just ordered the original African Rangers in Fudge. FYI, if you are a member of GOVX they are 32% off for the AR's and 30% off for the barefoot AR's. You have to pay for shipping but still come out a lot cheaper than Amazon or the JG website. Hope this helps someone!

Awesome, I’m a member, but they don’t have my size in the barefoot style….lol

 

[Spearhead]

Do you feel like they were quiet during your Safari in May? Also, what sole liner did you get?

I put the Sole performance wide in all 4 pair of my JG Rangers. I like the cork. I wanted something that would give a tiny bit more cushion than the plastic ones. I love them. Climbed all over the granite mountain hills in Namibia and they did fantastic. I was surprised that the JG tread griped very well. Never slipped once. I also only wear them with Darn tough socks. My wet didn’t sweat, we’re not hot and didn’t stink. I have 3 pairs of the bovine rangers and one cape buffalo ranger. I will say the black pair I wear at work has worn more than the rest because of walking on concrete.

 

[mhunts]

I run the barefoot rangers just as they came without insoles, and really like them. The wide toe box is great if you have to contend with morton's neuroma. Anyone that doesn't know what that is, be thankful.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

One thing to be mindful of on either is if you have narrow feet. The Rangers have a HUGE toe box, and care needs to be taken when lacing to ensure the tongue doesn't bunch up.

My shoe width is A or B, depending on who's doing the measuring and cutting, so this was something I figured out pretty quickly with these boots. If you have narrow feet and your boots are hurting the tops of your feet, just be sure to pull the tongue out tight and neatly tuck the excess under the lace holes on both sides.

My shoe size is 13B or 14A. Sucks nobody really makes shoes for us, but the world is what it is, learn to adapt.

Not trying to derail a Jim Green thread talking about Courteney…just a note about narrow feet. I’m a narrower foot as well, and upper side of 13 but narrow side of C. I can wear some 13D boots, if I do thicker socks or liner and regular sock, but still not awesome. The Courteney boots are cut pretty roomy to start with, and then Westley Richards and African Sporting Creations seem to order more stock in Wide than not. All WR boots are wide.

I’d reached out to Gale to get a better idea of sizing and she had me trace and measure my foot. I was asking them to make me a pair that fit well. She suggested waiting several months (this was in 2025) as they were finishing up design of a narrow last for folks such as myself.

They made me a couple pair that I picked up while in Zim back in April and some of the best fitting boots/shoes I’ve ever worn. I am typically wearing one pair or the other every single day since.

So there are some options out there for us narrower footed folk. Wouldn’t prove surprised if Jim Green didn’t have some narrow last options to build off as well.